In a picturesque village known for its beauty, residents are speaking out against the UNESCO world heritage status that has transformed their home into what they describe as a “tourist zoo.” The village of Vlkolinec, nestled in the Carpathian mountains of Slovakia, has seen an influx of visitors drawn to its medieval fairytale charm since receiving the prestigious designation.

Local villagers are now calling for a reversal of their UNESCO status, claiming that the organization has disrupted their traditional way of life. They feel overwhelmed by the crowds, regulations, and global spotlight that have invaded their privacy and stripped away their sense of normalcy. The strict preservation guidelines imposed by UNESCO have restricted their ability to maintain livestock, cultivate crops, or make repairs to their homes without approval, leading to a loss of the very essence that made their village unique.

UNESCO, established in 1945 and headquartered in Paris, granted Vlkolinec its world heritage status in 1993 to safeguard its collection of 43 brightly painted wooden houses, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. Despite being praised as a prime example of a traditional Central European rural settlement, the village now attracts over 100,000 tourists annually, outnumbering the remaining four families who call Vlkolinec home.

Residents express frustration over the intrusion of strangers into their daily lives, with tourists wandering through gardens and peering into windows as if observing animals in a zoo. The village’s population has dwindled over the years, with only 14 individuals remaining compared to the 27 residents of three decades ago. Many houses have been converted into vacation homes, standing empty for most of the year while hordes of visitors flood the narrow streets.

The once-thriving community of Vlkolinec now faces a stark decline, with locals feeling trapped in their own village by the very UNESCO status intended to preserve it. The clash between heritage preservation and community livelihood has left residents grappling with the unintended consequences of global recognition.